I am looking for works of fiction similar to the 1983 film The Star Chamber that stars Michael Douglas as an idealistic judge. Frustrated at having to dismiss the case against an obviously guilty criminal due to a legal technicality, Douglas' character is invited to join a secret group that offers a special type of vigilante justice. But what happens if they make a mistake?

I am looking for fiction of any form -- movies, books, TV episodes, short stories, etc.

Does something like TV's Dexter count? He's a serial killer who kills bad guys. Or are you looking for secret societies? Is it the vigilantism? What are you looking for in particular?posted by Admiral Haddock at 9:10 AM on March 12, 2013 [1 favorite]

*groups of at least two people
*operating in an unofficial capacity (not sanctioned law enforcement organizations)
*no personal connection to the situation (not the actual victim, family member, etc.)
*some kind of idealistic/justice motivation
*deliberating (not spur of the moment or ad hoc lynch mob)posted by 99percentfake at 9:21 AM on March 12, 2013

One of the Dirty Harry films "Magnum Force" concerns a group of cops fed up of criminals getting off on technicalities and who decide to do so something about it.posted by biffa at 9:25 AM on March 12, 2013 [1 favorite]

Guilty as Charged is a dark comedy featuring Rod Steiger as a vigilante with his very own electric chair. It meets all of your stated requirements. It's not exactly a great film, though.posted by dortmunder at 9:53 AM on March 12, 2013 [1 favorite]

The recently concluded TNT series Leverage fits the bill nicely. Timothy Hutton's character leads a group of criminals who rights wrongs that can't be corrected through the usual legal channels, often due to the wealth/power of the villians. Mostly light in tone with a good bit of humor. There is an intermittent arc involving a case with a personal tie to Hutton's character, but most of the episodes are as you describe.posted by DevilsAdvocate at 10:12 AM on March 12, 2013 [1 favorite]

The film Blackmail Is My Life is excellent, and in this vein. Blackmailers who pride themselves on having a code.posted by Sticherbeast at 10:17 AM on March 12, 2013 [2 favorites]

There is a subplot in the third season of the 2004 Battlestar Galactica which fits most of your criteria, although it's a very small part of entire series.posted by makeitso at 10:22 AM on March 12, 2013 [1 favorite]

Agatha Christie's And then there were none fits all but one of your criteria. (I found it an eminently forgettable read, though.) The short story ‘The Unprincipled affair of the Practical Joker’ by Dorothy L. Sayers also hits all but one of your points, I think. The criterion missing from both of them is ‘at least two people’ -- they are one-off bringing-to-justice projects rather than established vigilante groups.

I was about to write (in response to griphus) that The man who was Thursday doesn't really fit your criteria, but the more I think about it the more appropriate it seems. And it's a great book all round. (And yes, for goodness' sake stay away from potential spoilers!)posted by pont at 11:04 AM on March 12, 2013 [1 favorite]

GF is a secret, worldwide group supposedly w/ 1,001 members. Experts in everything from physics, military, magic, espionage, law enforcement, faerie tales, you name it. Everyone has a comm-unit w/ the Frequency Logo on it. When shit pops off, the phone rings and you hear Aleph's voice, "You're on the Global Frequency"... Time to save the world again.

GF deals with all the problems that are too big (or too politically delicate) for governments to deal with publicly (or even acknowledge exist), but could still destroy the world (or at least a city). The rumor is that they're operations are funded by all the major governments who don't want their secrets exposed.

Favorite episode is one where someone gets the call and is told "There's a bomb across London." When she responds "I'm not a bomb expert!" she's told "No, but you know Parkour, and you're the only agent close enough. We'll guide you in..." Great stuff.

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